Cable briefs

Press, 27 September 1988, Page 8

Cable briefs

‘Vampire murder’ A 19-year-old drifter, said to have killed a man to suck his blood, has been found guilty of firstdegree murder by a Minnesota court. Timothy Erickson, who had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, was convicted for the murder of Donald Gall, aged 30, a fellow drifter, last March 22.—Minneapolis. Visas withheld President Daniel Ortega cancelled a planned trip to the United States as his Government accused Washington of illegally withholding visas from some members of his delegation. The Deputy Foreign Minister, Victor Hugo Tinoco, said Nicaragua requested visas for about 60 people but Washington granted visas only for Mr Ortega and about 20 junior officials and bodyguards.—Managua. Moi re-elected President Daniel arap Moi was re-elected as President of the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) Party today, at the end of weeklong party polls throughout Kenya.—Nairobi. Languages banned A Kuwaiti bank has told its employees to gpeak

only Arabic or English on the job — effectively banning Urdu, Hindi and other tongues of Asian employees. Ahmed alHilali, director of administrative affairs at Burgan Bank, said. “We noticed that some employees while carrying out their duties were using Urdu, Hindi and other languages and that some customers were irritated.” —Kuwait. More opium More opium is now being produced in Afghanistan than before the start of the civil war between the Sovietbacked Government and Muslim rebels, a United Nations official said. “Opium is still thought to be grown in most if not all the traditional growing areas and production is estimated to be above 1978 levels,” said Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, U.N. co-ordinator of aid to Afghanistan.—Geneva. Fraser wants job The former Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, gave a personal insight into his desire to become the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. “I would be honoured to fill the role if Commonwealth leaders want me to, but there are some 50 or so Governments involved,”